So, we have a favorite villain thread so now lets make up the hall of shame. I think most of us will have villains theyre not too crazy about or flat out dont like

My 5 least favorite villains are:

1. Ras & Talia Al Ghul (never ever liked them and they were the only villains that made me avoid buying an issue, at the time when I was eagerly awaiting every one of them and collecting them religiously. The movie version I enjoy very much tho)
2. Zeus
3. Poison Ivy
4. Killer Croc (feels like evil Ben Grimm for me)
5. Black Spider

I would have to say characters like The Ventriloquist/Mad Hatter/Clock King.

Nothing against anyone who does like the list above - But I always preferred the more serious, grittier villains like Joker, Two-Face and Bane.

Ouch! You named one of my all time faves. Of course its all our opinions but you mentioned that you prefer serious, gritty characters, but Joker's anything but. Hes a murdering psychopath but is funny at the same time and acting like a silly happy clown. Same with Ventrilquist. Scarface is funny cause its a talking puppet and he tries to be feared so comes out comically (intentionally) especially with his letter G, but behind it hides a disturbed individual who comes from mob family and witnessed his mother's murder, someone absolutely vicious and ruthless

Ouch! You named one of my all time faves. Of course its all our opinions but you mentioned that you prefer serious, gritty characters, but Joker's anything but. Hes a murdering psychopath but is funny at the same time and acting like a silly happy clown. Same with Ventrilquist. Scarface is funny cause its a talking puppet and he tries to be feared so comes out comically (intentionally) especially with his letter G, but behind it hides a disturbed individual who comes from mob family and witnessed his mother's murder, someone absolutely vicious and ruthless

Perhaps it's the way they've been presented to me then.

I used to buy comics based on characters I'd grown familiar with, and tended to avoid the ones I mentioned in my dislike list purely out of ...habit I guess!

- Ras Al Ghul (the only time I've ever liked the character is with the Begins Neeson Ras)

- Talia

- Solomon Grundy

- Maxie Zeus

- The Mad Hatter

- Black Mask

- Harley Quinn

With Ras Al Ghul and Talia I just never liked that whole dynamic or there relationship with Batman. Every story line seemed the same with them, "join us Batman, be my successor and marry my daughter or DIE". I just never could enjoy it. That parred with the Lazarus pit, Damian, especially Damian, and all that other craziness and they're some of my least favorite villains.

Solomon Grundy I've always disliked. I just don't understand the character at all. He doesn't even come across as a Batman villain to me. He should stay in Green Lantern's universe. With Maxie Zeus it's just the ridiculousness of it, like, why was he even created? While I like and enjoy the Mad Hatter in Batman the animated series, in other mediums I can't stand him. I'm sure people gasped at the likes of Black Mask and Harley Quinn being on my list but I think Black Mask is extremely overrated. There's just nothing about the character that I enjoy. As for Harley, she's sort of the same deal with the Mad Hatter (this sort of goes for Croc, Man-Bat and Poison Ivy as well. I love them in BTAS but outside in comics, I loathe them). I love the character in the animated series, but outside of it I absolutely despise her. She should have remained where she came from. She has this whole "cosplay" (outside of animation she just doesn't look right to me), obnoxious "mista j" quality outside of the series that I can't stand.

Really, the only ones I like or care about are the following,

- The Joker

- Two-Face

- The Riddler

- The Penguin

- Catwoman

- Hugo Strange

- Mr. Freeze

- Clayface

- Scarecrow

- Bane

- The Ventriloquist

With the exception of perhaps Croc, Man-Bat and Ivy I could probably do without the rest of them that I haven't listed.

I used to buy comics based on characters I'd grown familiar with, and tended to avoid the ones I mentioned in my dislike list purely out of ...habit I guess!

I became a fan right before the Breyfogle/Grant era so I was on the other end. They didnt have many appearances of the old established villains, instead kept creating new ones (Ventrilquist being one of them). Actually as many as 4 of those ended up in my top 5 (the only one that wasnt and my #1 is of course - no surprise - Joker!)

Zsasz - He's as bad as Carnage in Spider-Man. Just a killing machine with no depth or substance.

Firefly - A pyromaniac who dresses like a giant bug. He bores me silly.

Maxie Zeus - I loved his one episode in BTAS, but in the comics he comes off as a silly goofball who thinks he's a god. Anyone remember the panel in Knightfall where the inmates are fleeing from Arkham after Bane's freed them, and Maxie is ranting and raving that he called down thunderbolts from the heavens to free him, and then he runs into a tree and knocks himself out. Pathetic villain!

__________________
"Sometimes I remember it one way. Sometimes another. If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!"

I
With Ras Al Ghul and Talia I just never liked that whole dynamic or there relationship with Batman. Every story line seemed the same with them, "join us Batman, be my successor and marry my daughter or DIE". I just never could enjoy it. That parred with the Lazarus pit, Damian, especially Damian, and all that other craziness and they're some of my least favorite villains.

I never liked him from the get go, not even in BTAS. In simplest terms, hes basically yet another evil wizard in a cape. Just about every cartoon or comic has one of those evil warlocks with goatee and cape and for me he seemed to generic and uninteresting and non-unique in comparison to all those other flashy, incredible Batman villains. Just another warlock

Quote:

While I like and enjoy the Mad Hatter in Batman the animated series, in other mediums I can't stand him.

Im similiar with other characters. For example, I dont find Clayface that interesting in the comics, but I love him in BTAS

If you think Ra's al Ghul is a simple archetype for "warlocks" then you havent read enough material with him, or his family, featured. He is quite easily in Batman's top three villains. If not at the top. I mean he single handedly (with the indirect help of Batman himself) dismatled the ENTIRE Justice Leage. NO ONE else can lay claim to that. The movie version sucked a fat one, and was barely a reflection of who the character is and what he means in the comics. Then again maybe that's why you enjoyed it.

Maxi Zeus
Firefly
Amygdala
Magpie
Grundy

Yeah there are legit reasons as to why THEY suck.

But Ra's al Ghul is one of the most well thought out, deeply developed characters in the Batman universe.

If you think Ra's al Ghul is a simple archetype for "warlocks" then you havent read enough material with him, or his family, featured.

As I mentioned, I avoided stories and BTAS episodes with Ras, but that doesnt change who he is. He might be powerful, but in the end hes still just another goatee&cape wizard, and there was overkill of those in cartoons and comics, and this is why I dont find the character interesting or exciting, especially next to such colorful (personality-wise) and unique villains as Joker, Scarecrow or Two face to name a few

Quote:

The movie version sucked a fat one, and was barely a reflection of who the character is and what he means in the comics. Then again maybe that's why you enjoyed it.

Definitely a part of the reason. Liam's performance is great and I liked this global terrorist he portrayed, who contained both great wisdom and great self control

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Joker

Zsasz - He's as bad as Carnage in Spider-Man. Just a killing machine with no depth or substance.

I think Zsasz has a lot of substance. Hes very sadistic and unique in the way he slashes people and places them in those lifelike positions. Its also unique how in his mind hes freeing people from useless lives and he can also surprise Batman during attacks and hold well against him. That and his very clever as well. All that makes him a very interesting villain for me which I always enjoyed and thought as a legitimate and serious opponent

Underrated: Deadshot (at least how he was potrayed in Batman: Gotham Knight dvd) ... that character has potential.

Some of these characters with more tweaks based in reality type psychosis or psyschology could be alot better.

Mad Hatter could essentially be a really creepy version of an acrhtype in Batman's universe for a weird pedophile.

I actually agree about Ra's being a corny wizard in both the comics and TAS. I much prefer the Batman Begins more grounded, shadow ninja / assasin organization, which the position of "Ra's Al Ghul" is simply a title for the leader of a realistic terrorist organization. No corny and ridiculous Lazarus Pit, asking Batman to be his apprentice every 5 seconds. He got it out the way in BEGINS ... ONE TIME ... everything after that, Bruce was just in his way.

This is why I say it's the ballot or the bullet.
It's liberty or it's death.
It's freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.
America today finds herself in a unique situation... to become involved in a bloodless revolution

Are you kidding me? Ra's and Talia are a HUGE part of Batman. Some of you are complaining that he's not "unique" like Joker or Two-Face, but thats partly why I think Ra's is important. Obviously Joker and Two-Face are great villains and deserve all their popularity, but it's nice to have a traditional style villain in Ra's al Ghul.

Its just I don't want EVERY Bat-villain to be some crazy lunatic with a gimmick. Ra's provides a classic storyline, and Batman's it-can-never-work love affair with Talia is a vital part of Batman and by far the best bat-relationship. And don't forget that Ra's is the most dangerous of all Batman's villains. While even the "heavyweights" only threaten Gotham city, Ra's schemes are often on a much higher level.

Orca hands down. WTF was that all about? singlehandedly made me disown Larry Hama as a favorite creator of mine. From the more now commonly used villains it's Tommy Elliot. He is just such an irrelevant character due to being extremely unnecessary.

Though I credit Dini for making him readable cause I proudly still own that Heart of Hush portion of Dini's 'tec run and the Streets of Gotham series to this day. However the themes explored with him make much more sense being explored with other established Batman rivals or adversaries.

__________________I enjoy comic book adaptations but I'm a comic book fan first and foremost. Not a comic book movie fan.

I also never was impressed with the Riddler...seems like a watered-down Joker to me. When has he ever struck fear into Batman/Gotham? All he does is silly riddles, trying to prove that he is smarter than the world's greatest detective. Sounds like a storyline for just one show or comic, not such a recurring villain as the Riddler.

And yes, I'm aware of the Hush plot, but I wasn't impressed. Hush was far more formidable, as he was at least there physically! All they did was show one page at the end that it was all planned by the Riddler.

I also never was impressed with the Riddler...seems like a watered-down Joker to me. When has he ever struck fear into Batman/Gotham? All he does is silly riddles, trying to prove that he is smarter than the world's greatest detective. Sounds like a storyline for just one show or comic, not such a recurring villain as the Riddler.

And yes, I'm aware of the Hush plot, but I wasn't impressed. Hush was far more formidable, as he was at least there physically! All they did was show one page at the end that it was all planned by the Riddler.

Oh, and he sounds like a whiny kid.

There have been a few issues where he has come across as more menacing. For instance, in Dark Knight: Dark City he actually kills people without hesitation.